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Termination effort fails; Smith reinstated at LHS The Washington County Board of Education met June 19 with a full agenda of items, some of which provoked a great deal of discussion. Action item number 13 was the rescinding of a termination proceeding against Faye Smith, tenured teacher at Leroy High School. The board voted to terminate Smith's continuing status contract on June 8, 2006. Smith challenged this decision; a hearing was held and the matter went into arbitration. Earlier this month, the arbitrator, Jack Clark of Montgomery, decided in Smith's favor. By her choice, Smith will be reinstated in junior high language arts at Leroy High School, instead of her previous Spanish curriculum. Superintendent Tim Savage said the board will be allowed to place a letter of reprimand in Smith's personnel file saying she was remiss in her duties by being late with her grades for a nineweek grading period. A member of the media asked Savage what the cost to the county was for legal fees and substitute pay in the Smith case. Savage deferred to Larry Moss, financial officer, who said he would have to pull invoices to give a total. Shortly before press time, Moss was contacted and he said it was necessary to go back two years to get an accurate total, adding, "it will be a few days before we can give you that." On Aug. 24, the board voted to put the pay for uncertified substitutes at $50 per day. School began for the 06-07 school year on Aug. 14. That leaves a balance of 170 days at $50 per day for Smith's substitute for a total of $8,500 for the year. The media member also asked if the students got a Spanish credit for the year since they had no teacher certified in Spanish. Larry Massey, principal of Leroy High School, answered, "Yes. We were fortunate to get a couple of people who almost had a minor in Spanish." School tax Savage thanked the media and everyone for helping get the one and three mill ad volorum taxes passed on June 5. Elaine Beech, board member, introduced two resolutions; one for District A and one for District B of Washington County for renewal of the 3 mill District tax. The resolutions will be presented to the county commission requesting a referendum on Sept. 11 to vote on this renewal. Other business +The board voted to approve a one-month payment to Millry Communications for $18,775.66 for telecommunications which will be reimbursed by the E-rate program. +Action item number 9, the hiring of an elementary teacher at McIntosh Elementary, provoked discussion about a chronic problem at the school, which is plagued by multiple transfers each year. Board members Dr. Fred Thomas, Kesler Weaver Sr. and Nollie Dees all pointed out that this has been a long-standing problem at McIntosh Elementary without any seeming resolution. Clatis Bection, board president, stated that the only solution he can see is for the community to "grow some local teachers," or the board to make a stipulation in teacher contracts that they stay more than one year. +Several board members expressed strong opinions regarding Superintendent Savage's recommendation to hire a truancy officer. This is a new 12-month position and the salary will be paid from the county general fund. In addition to being in charge of truancy, the officer's duties will include supervising co-operative education and the AOD (Alabama Occupational Diploma) Program. (To apply for an AOD diploma, a student must have verifiable special needs.) Harold Crouch, director of the Washington County Career Technical School, said that those who applied for this position were given to understand that it will involve home visits to truant students. Additionally, the officer will affirm all warrants issued to parents of truant students. He told the board that there is mandatory additional training for the job and the person hired will have three years to complete that. +Nollie Dees, board member from District 4, stated that his school, Fruitdale High School, is losing a teacher and here he is being asked to vote on hiring another teacher to be paid out of general fund. Clatis Becton said, "I just have a lot of unanswered questions and problems with this position." Dees voted for the position; Becton against. +Without any public discussion among board members, Savage's recommendation to hire Rhonda Wynn as principal at Washington County High failed for lack of a motion. +Savage reported bids on nine outdated school buses which the county will sell. +Larry Moss, chief financial officer, reported that revenue receipts were good from the revenue commissioner's office and the bank balance was holding steady. He said that he is beginning to make payments on the gyms which comes out of capital outlay. Though Fruitdale High is still slated to lose a teacher, the other school in question has "salvaged their teacher unit" according to Moss. Personnel Items Inter-school transfer - Jeremy Thornton, Fruitdale Resignation - Debbie Smith - Chatom Elementary Resignation - Eglasia Barnes - McIntosh High Leave of Absence - Gail Williams, CNP worker, WCHS Employ Gloria Hinson - janitor - Chatom Elementary Amanda Lee - teacher - McIntosh Elemtary Scott Mason - coach/teacher - Fruitdale Larry Boykin - coach/teacher - McIntosh High Faye Smith - language arts - Leroy David Davis - Truancy Officer Rhonda Howard - Bookkeeper/Resource Mgr. (Fed.) Connie Snow - P.E. - Leroy Lisa Scarbrough - Spanish - Leroy
There will be a work session for the board with all principals on July 6 and the next regular board meeting will be July 17 at 10 a.m.
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